Per The Richest Man in Babylon, here are seven cures for a lean purse...
1. Start Thy Purse to Fattening
Save 10% of your earnings or even 15%-20% if possible. The point is to decide at the very least that you will forever live off of 90% of your income. Let's say you are given five apples every morning to put into a basket. Each evening you have to remove four and in the morning you will be given five apples again. You have a constant "income" of apples each morning but you always leave one behind. Eventually, you'll have more apples in your basket than you receive each morning. This is a necessary beginning stage to achieving and maintaining whatever your ideal level of wealth is. You have to put at least 10% of your income to the side. Removing all of your apples from your basket each evening because you know you'll get more in the morning is foolish and will leave you in a perpetual state of "chasing the bag".
2. Control Thy Expenditures
Budgeting is not my favorite word but it's necessary to a certain degree. Your desires and interests will always rise up to meet your income. Therefore, it's good to learn how to satisfy your needs and wants within your means. Saving 10% becomes fruitless quickly without self control. Purchase what is necessary with 90% of your income leaving the remainder to increase on its own.
3. Make thy Gold Multiply
Put your money to work. Compound interest is your friend. Time is powerful. Getting your 10% to generate earnings will keep your purse fat :D Extend your funds into profitable investments in which you fully understand the upside and potential pitfalls.
4. Guard your treasure from loss
Lending out the last you have to someone is not a favor, it's a terrible idea. Now both of you don't have shit. Don't loan out anything unless the person has insured their ability to repay you. Per the book, be wise with your investments and don't entrust a brickmaker to profitably close a jewelry sale for you. (In the story, an investor was sold glass by Phoenicians and was told they are precious jewels.)
5. Make of thy Dwelling a Profitable Investment
This one is simple. Own your home. Everyone needs a home and it is often one of the most important purchases a person makes. Your home requires you to pour money and time into it. You can't pass a home you're renting to the next generation, nor does it become your family's should you pass away.
6. Insure thy Future Income
There are many ways to make sure you have funds in your elder years. A small monthly sum will ensure that you don't have to work into your old age unless by choice. The book provides an example of how to ensure future income through providing increasingly larger silver deposits to a money lender who pays back with interest.
7. Increase thy Ability to Earn
Put effort and concentration into increasing your skills. Become keen on improving your skills. You'll be richly rewarded by learning more of your craft. In short, improve the service you provide to your patrons to have a richer life.